A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

147 Räma
Räghava
Räma, a descendant of RAGHU.
Raghu
A king of the solar race and an ancestor
of RÄMA. KÄLIDÄSA wrote the celebrated
epic poem Raghuvamÿa, the genealogy
of Raghu and the life of Räma.
Rähu
A mythical monster that consists of a
disembodied head, and causes eclipses
by swallowing the sun and the moon.
Rahu käla (‘Rahu-time’)
An inauspicious time. It varies from day
to day, and no new or risky untertaking
should be commenced during this period.
Räïdäs, also Ravidäs
(15th century)
A BHAKTI poet from the cämär (tanner)
CASTE, who became the founder of a sect
that perpetuates his memory. He took
pride in showing the right way to brahmins,
in spite of being an OUTCASTE. He
has become a hero of the DALITS.
to be present to acknowledge the sovereignty
of the newly consecrated monarch.
Räja Yoga
See PÄTAÑJALA YOGA.
rak•aka (‘saviour’)
A designation of VIÆŒU, whose essence
is salvation.
räk•asa
A goblin, evil spirit, fiend, an enemy of
the ÄRYAS. They play a major role in
Hindu literature as disturbers of peace
and as a constant threat to sages in their
forest retreats.
Raktadantä (‘red-toothed’)
An epithet of DURGÄ.
Räma, also Rämacandra
The oldest son of king Daÿaratha, ruler
of Ayodhyä. According to traditional
historians he lived c. 3800–3700 BCE He
is considered to have been the seventh
räja-dharma
Rules of life for a king, prescribing a
king’s duties. There is a famous Räjadharma
section in the Ÿäntiparvan of
the Mahäbhärata, and there are separate
works on it as well.
Räjanya
another name for the KÆATRIYA caste.
rajas
See GUŒA.
räja-süya (‘royal sacrifice’)
A great sacrifice celebrated at the installation
of a king, at which all vassals had
Räma with Sïtä.